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WSmith
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Profile Evaluation - Harvard and Stanford 18 Mar 2015, 15:54
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I graduated from a top university in a social sciences major, have a 4.0 GPA, 760 GMAT, currently work as an investment banking analyst at a bulge bracket investment bank, and am joining a middle market private equity firm (on the smaller end) this coming summer, which is a 2 year commitment (potentially 3 years if there is a need). After this stint, I will likely be looking to apply to business school to get back into private equity as a post-MBA associate. I am focused on Harvard and Stanford but understand that it is very competitive and there are probably many other white, males with a finance background looking to apply for admission. I applied to 2+2 and did not get in out of undergrad.

I do not have any meaningful community service, volunteer or entrepreneurial experience but am assuming that I will need to get going on that, but am not sure if it would need to have some sort tie into another aspect of my "story." Undergraduate extracurricular activities included a couple of small leadership positions and some activities that can be spun but nothing particular outstanding.

I'm trying to be proactive by thinking about this early to maximize my chances at Harvard and Stanford - with my background, what will I need to do to differentiate myself from other similar candidates?

Thank you
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Profile Evaluation - Harvard and Stanford 20 Mar 2015, 03:44
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WinstonSmith
I graduated from a top university in a social sciences major, have a 4.0 GPA, 760 GMAT, currently work as an investment banking analyst at a bulge bracket investment bank, and am joining a middle market private equity firm (on the smaller end) this coming summer, which is a 2 year commitment (potentially 3 years if there is a need). After this stint, I will likely be looking to apply to business school to get back into private equity as a post-MBA associate. I am focused on Harvard and Stanford but understand that it is very competitive and there are probably many other white, males with a finance background looking to apply for admission. I applied to 2+2 and did not get in out of undergrad.

I do not have any meaningful community service, volunteer or entrepreneurial experience but am assuming that I will need to get going on that, but am not sure if it would need to have some sort tie into another aspect of my "story." Undergraduate extracurricular activities included a couple of small leadership positions and some activities that can be spun but nothing particular outstanding.

I'm trying to be proactive by thinking about this early to maximize my chances at Harvard and Stanford - with my background, what will I need to do to differentiate myself from other similar candidates?

Thank you
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Hey Winston,

Well, you are definitely in line for Top 10 programs with your experience and grades and GMAT. The two things you will need to work on is:
1. Your story - Like you wrote they get a lot of similar applications, so other than doing bulge bracket and making money in finance your whole life, what do you want to do? What are your dreams? goals? passions?
2. Definitely have to get going on that volunteer work. Very good is big well-known institutions or local ones that give you leadership opportunities (Church/Synagogue, etc. is excellent). Politics is also a big winner for Top schools.

I mean, you know where your weaknesses are, and I know that you likely don't have time, and if you are doing a bit of volunteer work and political stuff, you basically won't have a life outside of work.. but if you want to get into HBS/Stanford... well... :)

Best of luck,
JF